When the news was announced that Priyanka Chopra was the new face of Guess, it created instant buzz about her being the first “brown” model connected with the international brand.
A former Miss World and currently one of Bollywood’s top actresses, Chopra now joins the list of notable celebrities who’ve endorsed Guess, which includes Claudia Schiffer and Anna Nicole Smith. Chopra also is one of the few Bollywood actresses who have managed to successfully cross over into western stardom – last year she launched herself onto the American pop music scene with her single In My City, which featured will.i.am.
Piggy Chops (a nickname that has stuck since childhood) remains unperturbed by the “brown” tag.
“In a way, it signifies that the world is becoming more and more borderless,” says Chopra. “I am a global citizen, just like everyone else, and I don’t have to change who I am to try to fit in or cater to a certain audience. That’s the message I think the world should take from this.”
The timing of her message couldn’t have been better. Just before her Guess endorsement was announced, Chopra received a slew of racist comments – including “Arab terrorist” – about her opening-act performance of the theme song for NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football in September.
But Chopra is stoic in the face of discrimination. “I don’t need to [respond] … my work speaks for itself,” she says. “The fact that I am the first Indian face for Guess and that the NFL chose my song to headline Thursday Night Football, which has been widely appreciated and accepted, is proof that the world is made up of so many more tolerant people than a few close-minded ones.”
For Chopra, who will inaugurate the Guess boutique with the brand’s chief executive Paul Marciano at Dubai Festival City today, the partnership marks a massive peak on her career chart. “I think deep down every girl wishes that she could become the Guess girl. This for me is an extension of my creative persona,” says the 31-year-old actress. “As an entertainer, the opportunity of becoming a global ambassador for Guess allows me to be able to connect with a wider audience.”
Working with the Canadian singer turned photographer Bryan Adams for the Guess shoot was a bonus. “It was very exciting to be shooting with Bryan, not only because he is one of my favourite artists, but also because of his understanding of what he wanted to achieve with the shoot,” she says about the black-and-white vintage-style ads the brand has become associated with under Marciano.
“Bryan was so focused, easy going and fun, which made the whole experience a memory I will carry for the rest of my life.”
And Chopra believes this is just the beginning. 2013, her 10th year in Bollywood, ended on a mixed note with the success of Krrish 3 and the super-flop Zanjeer, but her latest drama Gunday, in UAE cinemas now, has been a success.
She is currently working on a biopic about Mary Kom, the five-time world boxing champion from India (Chopra had to alter her daily regime to include six hours of boxing and two hours of gym and to stick to a vegetarian diet). She has also signed on to Zoya Akhtar’s forthcoming film Dil Dhadakne Do, alongside Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma and Farhan Akhtar. Chopra says she juggles so many projects because she wants to push herself to new heights. “Most people tell me I thrive on the stress and the hectic schedule and would, in fact, be a mess without it,” she says.
Will she be adding Hollywood to the mix? “I never plan my life … I try to make the best of the opportunity that is presented to me. I am very happy with the work I am doing in India and if something interesting comes up from the west I will definitely consider it.”
aahmed@thenational.ae
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Results
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
